OFFICIAL RULES

Eligibility

Bartenders: The Competition is open only to individuals who (a) are legal residents of the United States, (b) are at least twenty-five (25) years old as of the date of entry, (c) work in a bar or as a bartender at least 10 hours per week. Individuals may only compete in one Absolut Heat Streak competition per calendar year: any competitor found to have competed in more than one will be immediately disqualified.

Exclusions: Individuals who are full-time or part-time employees of TOTCF, Pernod Ricard U.S.A., Absolut, OFFSITE, or a distributor at the time of entry, as well as the immediate family (spouse, parents, children) and household members of those employees, are not eligible to enter.

Stage 1: Online Entries

How to Enter: Visit absolutheatstreak.com and follow the instructions on that page. Participants will be required to submit a form of their identifying and contact information. Together, the form and submission constitute the “Entry.” Entries must be received by the day of the corresponding competition, all no later than July 15, 2026, and Participants may only enter and compete in one (1) In-Market Event per year.

Selection: Participation in each In-Market Event will be determined on a first-come, first-served basis at the location and time of the event. Capacity for each In-Market Event will range from ten (10) to thirty (30) Participants.

Notification of In-Market Events: TOTCF will notify all Participants via email, and invite them to participate in their In-Market Event.

Stage 2: In-Market Events

In-Market Events: The In-Market Events will take place between June 1st - July 15, 2026 in markets throughout the U.S. Each competitor is responsible for any necessary travel, accommodations, meals, taxes, and the cost of other incidental expenses incurred by participating in an In-Market Event.

Competition Details: During the In-Market Events, participants will compete to have the lowest Total Time. Total Time will equal the Baseline Time plus the Penalties. Baseline time is the time recorded by the stopwatch of a designated judge.

  • Participants will make four cocktails in as little time as possible as determined by their competition order and the corresponding “ticket” provided.

    • All ingredients, ice, bar tools, and glassware will be provided

    • Participants must use provided tools; they cannot provide their own bar tools.

Penalties: Penalties will be judged according to the following criteria where “s” means seconds :

  • WASH LINE: Were all glasses filled to at least the minimum wash line?

    • +15s for each drink below the minimum wash line (as compared to glasses filled with water on judge station)

  • INGREDIENT PENALTY: Did they forget an ingredient?

    • +15s for missing an ingredient, e.g. forgetting lime juice or not adding any ice, etc.

  • ROLLING PENALTY: Did they roll the Bloody Mary at least two times?

    • +30s for not rolling a minimum of 2 times

  • RIM PENALTY: Did they rim the Bloody Mary?

    • +30s for not rimming the Bloody Mary

  • GARNISH PENALTY: Did they garnish every cocktail?

    • +10s one time penalty per drink without garnish (note there is no penalty for using lemon instead of lime)

Prizing: The competitor with the lowest total time, after penalty adjustments, will be named the Winner of that In-Market Event. TOTCF will award the winner of each In-Market Event with a spot on the Prize trip. TOTCF will also provide physical prizes to the first runner up (2nd place) and second runner up (3rd place).

Notification of Prize Trip: TOTCF will notify all Winners via email by July 31, 2026, and invite them to participate in the Prize Trip. Each Finalist may be required to complete and return a declaration of eligibility, a liability/publicity release, a current W-9, and authorization to conduct a background check. TOTCF reserves the right (in its sole discretion) to disqualify a Winner if the individual does not sign the necessary forms within five (5) days of the date notification is sent. If a Winner returns these documents on time, and in TOTCF’s sole discretion, passes the background check, they will be invited to participate in the Prize Trip.

Stage 3: Prizing

Trip to Avery Island: The Winner of each in-market event, as determined by TOTCF will receive: (a) round-trip coach class airfare for one (1) person from an airport close to the winner’s home to New Orleans, LA; (b) hotel accommodations for two (2) nights; (c) ground transportation in Louisiana; (d) travel insurance; and (e) an immersive, educational experience in Louisiana including a visit to the brand home of Tabasco on Avery Island. The approximate retail value of the trip is $2,500. The actual value of the trip will vary depending on various factors, including the date of booking, the point of departure, and the dates of travel. Please see the Prize Details Section below for additional details. Winners will be responsible for their passport, visa if needed, vaccines, luggage, tax, meals, and the cost of other incidental expenses.

General Terms

Supplies: For all stages, participants will be responsible for all expenses that are not explicitly stated as provided by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation in these rules.

Agreement to Terms and Conditions: By participating in this Competition, participants indicate their unconditional agreement to these Official Rules, the TOTCF Code of Conduct, and TOTCF’s decisions, which are final and binding. Moreover, by participating, they represent that they are complying with any policies their employer may have regarding participation in competitions of this nature. Participants cannot win a prize unless they comply with all requirements set forth herein. TOTCF reserves the right to change these Official Rules at any time, without prior notice. Any changes will be posted on the Website.

Background Check: TOTCF reserves the right (at any point and in its sole discretion) to disqualify any individual if, based on the results of the background check – or on an individual’s other actions or statements – TOTCF concludes that the individual will not be a good representative for the TOTCF or Absolut brands. Any actions of the competitor outside of accordance with the TOTCF Code of Conduct will result in disqualification from the program.

Rights to Entries: By entering, participants irrevocably: (a) grant TOTCF, Pernod Ricard U.S.A., Absolut, OFFSITE, and each of their agents, licensees, and assigns (collectively, the “Rights Holders”) the unconditional and non-exclusive right and permission to copyright, reproduce, encode, store, copy, transmit, publish, post, broadcast, display, publicly perform, adapt, modify, create derivative works of, exhibit, and otherwise use their Entry as-is or as-edited in any media throughout the world for any purpose, without limitation, and without additional review, compensation, or approval from the competitor or any other party for five (5) years from the date they submitted the Entry; (b) waive any rights of copyrights, trademark rights, privacy rights, and any other legal or moral rights that may preclude the Rights Holders’ use of the Entry, as outlined above, or require any further permission for the Rights Holders to use the Entry; and (c) agree not to instigate, support, maintain, or authorize any action, claim, or lawsuit against the Rights Holders on the grounds that any use of the Entry, or any derivative works, infringes any of their rights as creator of the Entry, including, without limitation, copyrights, trademark rights, and moral rights.

Publicity: Except where prohibited, by participating in the Competition, participants agree that the Rights Holders and any media attending events related to the Competition may use their name, likeness, voice, opinions, photographs, event-related audio-visual footage, biographical information, state of residence, and/or any other record of their participation in the Competition for promotional purposes in any press releases, advertisements, television, radio, film, documentary, internet, social media, or in any other publication or media without further payment or consideration and to license the right to use such intellectual property to others. Participants consent to be taped, photographed, and recorded. Participants grant to TOTCF, Absolut, OFFSITE, and their designees and agents, the right in perpetuity throughout the world to utilize Participant’s image, likeness, voice, actions and statements (i) in any live or recorded audio, video, film, or photographic display or other transmission, exhibition, publication or reproduction made of, or at, the Event in any medium or context for any purpose, including commercial or promotional purposes, and/or (ii) in connection with the promotion of TOTCF, Absolut, OFFSITE, and their programs, generally, without further authorization or compensation. Participants may be required to sign additional releases regarding publicity.

Prize Details: Participants are responsible for paying any taxes, including income taxes and any and all other costs and expenses not listed in the Official Rules. Participants may be required to provide a Social Security Number for tax reporting purposes. Any prize details not specified above will be determined by TOTCF, at its sole discretion. The actual value of the trips will vary depending on various factors, including the date of booking, the point of departure, and dates of travel. A prize may not be transferred and must be accepted as awarded. Participants may not request cash or a substitute prize; however, TOTCF reserves the right to substitute a prize (or component thereof) with another prize (or component thereof) of equal or greater value if the prize is not available for any reason, as determined by TOTCF, in its sole discretion. Participants must travel on the dates specified by TOTCF. Once travel documents are issued, travel arrangements cannot be changed. If participants cannot travel on the dates specified by TOTCF, they will not be permitted to compete in the next stage of the Competition. Participants are responsible for securing any other documents necessary for travel. If the Competition is canceled, no prizes may be awarded.

General Conditions: In the event that the operation, security, or administration of the Competition is impaired in any way, TOTCF may, in its sole discretion, either: (a) cancel or suspend the Competition to address the impairment and then resume the Competition; or (b) award the prizes according to the criteria set forth above from among the eligible entries received up to the time of the impairment. TOTCF reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify and seek damages from any individual who tampers with the operation of the Competition, violates these Official Rules or the TOTCF Code of Conduct, or acts in a disruptive or unsportsmanlike manner. TOTCF’s failure to enforce any term of these Terms and Conditions shall not constitute a waiver of that provision. Proof of sending any communication to TOTCF by mail shall not be deemed proof of receipt of that communication by TOTCF. The Competition is subject to federal, state, and local laws and regulations and is void in Utah and where prohibited. Participants agree that, while participating in the contest and in their private lives, they will (a) not commit an offense involving moral turpitude; (b) not engage in activities that may create any public scandal, disrepute, widespread contempt, or public ridicule; (c) not harass, embarrass, offend, insult, or denigrate individuals or groups; (d) not damage the person or property of others; (e) that they will treat all other contestants, judges, and related competition personnel with respect; and (f) that they will drink responsibly. Travel and cash prizes will be taxable to participants and they should expect to receive a Form 1099.

Release and Limitations of Liability: By participating in the Competition, participants hereby release and hold harmless TOTCF, Pernod Ricard U.S.A., Absolut, OFFSITE, and each of their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents (the “Released Parties”) from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the Competition or receipt or use of any prize, including, but not limited to: (a) unauthorized human intervention in the Competition; (b) technical errors; (c) printing errors; (d) lost, late, postage-due, misdirected, or undeliverable mail; (e) errors in the administration of the Competition or the processing of Entries; (f) injury or damage to participants and their property and/or (g) injury or damage they cause to other persons or property. Participants further agree to defend, indemnify, release, and hold the Released Parties harmless from any claims related to their participation including damage to other persons and property, and from any claims that their use of their Entry (as contemplated in these Rules) violates or infringes upon the rights of any third party. Participants waive the right to claim any damages whatsoever, including, but not limited to, punitive, consequential, direct, or indirect damages.

Disputes: All disputes arising out of or related to these rules, the Competition, or any other matter shall be resolved through binding arbitration filed and heard in New Orleans, Louisiana pursuant to American Arbitration Association Rules using a single arbitrator. Each contestant waives any rights to challenge this forum and venue or the application of Louisiana law. Should this arbitration agreement be held non-enforceable or in order to enforce an arbitration award, each contestant irrevocably submits and consents to the jurisdiction and venue of the courts located in Orleans Parish, Louisiana and waives any objection that such forum is inconvenient. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation, and enforceability of these Terms and Conditions, participant’s rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of TOTCF in connection with the Competition, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of Louisiana, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of Louisiana or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than Louisiana. Each contestant agrees that any claim or dispute related to the Competition shall be conducted only on an individual basis and not in a class, collective, or representative action or as a named or unnamed member in a class, collective, consolidated, or private attorney general action.

Event Organizer: The Competition is brought to you by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, ℅ Taylor & Willis CPAs, 3500 N Causeway Blvd, Suite 1145, Metairie, LA 70002.